Windows 7: Media Player on startup ?????

Using Win 7 X64, SP1, and IE9
I have a CPU Monitor gadget - works well - shows CPU activity by the core

For something like 10 to 20 seconds after booting to Desktop there is considerable CPU activity (up to 8%). This is AFTER ALL basic programs are downloaded and initialized.

I have a quick link to the Task Manager on the Task Bar and have verified over and over that this initial "Activity" is all being caused by the Windows Media Player, which I never use.

Something in my "system" is causing this to happen - it wasn't doing this until fairly recently.

Even with the best tools it's hard to figure out what is causing this - Why WM PLAYER runs heavily every time I boot.

This has nothing to do with which browser I am using ( I use them all)
This is an ugly parasite - probably built into Windows 7 (of course I've run virus and spam checkers)



Any suggestions would be helpful.